Petroleum ministry to execute Rs190mln new projects in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of petroleum and natural resources would execute two new projects worth Rs190 million for coal exploration and evaluation in different localities of Balochistan, besides carrying out a survey for underground water in Quetta.

"Of the total Rs190.033 million estimated cost, an amount of Rs88.023 million has been allocated to carry out two new schemes for coal exploration and evaluation in Nosham and Bahlol areas of Balochistan, and the underground water survey," sources said on Friday.

The ministry would spend Rs554.291 million under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2017/18) to execute four ongoing and two new projects to step up exploration activities of natural resources for achieving self-reliance in the energy sector.

An amount of Rs415.807 million has been earmarked to acquire four drilling rigs and their accessories for the Geological Survey of Pakistan, while Rs37.977 million would be spent on the appraisal of the newly-discovered coal resources in Badin and its adjoining areas of Southern Sindh.

The funds amounting to Rs8.992 million would be utilised in exploration and evaluation of metallic and minerals in Bela and Uthal areas of Lasbela district, Balochistan.  Similarly, Rs3.492 million has been reserved for exploration of tertiary coal in the Central Salt Range of Punjab.